NHA Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

If a phlebotomist notices an empty breakfast plate during a glucose tolerance test, what should they do?

1. Ask the patient when they last ate

2. Discard the test

3. Wait for 2 hours

4. Collect the sample immediately

The correct answer is: Ask the patient when they last ate

During a glucose tolerance test, it is crucial to monitor the patient's compliance with the pre-test instructions, which typically require fasting before the test begins. If a phlebotomist observes an empty breakfast plate, it indicates that the patient has eaten, which can significantly affect the results of the test. In this situation, asking the patient when they last ate helps verify the timing of their meal and determine if it falls within a typical fasting period. This inquiry ensures that the test results will be valid and not skewed by recent food intake, which could lead to erroneous conclusions about the patient's glucose metabolism. Accurate communication with the patient is essential for effective patient care and proper test administration. The other options do not provide the necessary action to ensure the integrity of the test. Discarding the test may be appropriate after assessing the circumstances surrounding the empty plate, but merely waiting or collecting a sample immediately without obtaining key information about the patient's eating could result in unreliable test outcomes.